Chapter 9: Summary, Analysis, and Key Themes

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

In 1964 Mexico City, Remedio is haunted by the consequences of his earlier refusal to collect Antonio's soul. The deviation from his assigned path has left him with a persistent, almost physical ache, as if a part of him has been torn away. He worries about what further compromise, exposure to humans, and visibility might cost him, but he postpones confronting that question.

Remedio turns his attention to an actor named Jaime and his family. He observes them from a distance, noting their apparent contentment and insularity. He is struck by the contrast between their comfortable lives and the suffering of children elsewhere in the city. As he drifts through their home at night, he wonders whether his observation changes the nature of the observed. He also considers the possibility that the Sonoro family may still owe a debt, which could require him to collect a soul—something he does not wish to do again.

Remedio decides to help the actor, reasoning that a successful intervention would prove his path is just and allow him to resume his work without further deviation. He approaches the family in a park, where the actor's son, Mito, is playing on a carousel. The boy climbs onto a white plaster horse, loses his footing, and falls to the ground. Remedio reaches him first, lifts him up, and carries him to a bench. He cleans the boy's scrapes and hands out rainbow-colored lollipops to the gathered children.

Jaime is grateful, but his father, Juan Antonio, is suspicious and demands to know who Remedio is. Jaime deflects, insisting Remedio is a doctor, and the two men argue over who was responsible for watching the children. Remedio observes how quickly Juan Antonio's shame over the boy's fall transforms into anger.

Jaime invites Remedio for a drink. At home, they discuss time and philosophy. Jaime mentions Borges's idea that all time has already passed, but Remedio responds that anyone who believes they understand the true nature of time is in for a surprise. When Jaime asks what kind of doctor he is, Remedio says he has studied human nature for a long, long time. Jaime assumes he is a Jungian. Remedio also challenges Jaime's claim that all happy families are alike, saying that happiness can have many faces. He is surprised by his own ability to speak so freely, and he wonders whether stepping off the path is making him more human.

Jaime insists Remedio stay for dinner, and after a wine-filled evening, he and his wife, Elena, beg Remedio to spend the night. Remedio agrees.

Key Events

Remedio reflects on the pain of having deviated from his path by refusing to collect Antonio's soul.
He observes the actor Jaime and his family, considering whether to intervene.
In a park, Mito falls from a carousel horse, and Remedio reaches him first, cleaning his wounds and giving lollipops to the children.
Juan Antonio questions Remedio's identity, while Jaime defends him and argues with his father.
Jaime invites Remedio for a drink, and they discuss time, philosophy, and happiness.
Remedio stays for dinner and then agrees to spend the night at the insistence of Jaime and Elena.

Character Development

Remedio: This chapter shows Remedio grappling with the consequences of his earlier choice. He is in physical and emotional pain from straying off his path, and he worries about what further deviation might cost him. His decision to help the actor is an attempt to prove his path is just, but it also draws him deeper into human engagement. He is surprised by his own ability to speak spontaneously, and he is uncertain whether becoming more like men is something to welcome or dread.
Jaime: The actor is presented as a man trying to understand his history and connect with his unyielding father. He is grateful to Remedio and quick to defend him, but he also struggles with his father's harshness. His conversation with Remedio reveals a philosophical bent and a desire to see his family as happy and uncomplicated.
Juan Antonio: The grandfather is suspicious of Remedio and quick to anger. His shame over the boy's fall is immediately transformed into outward aggression, a pattern that highlights his inability to process vulnerability.
Mito: The boy's fall and quick recovery serve as a catalyst for the chapter's events. His resilience and enjoyment of the attention afterward contrast with the adults' tensions.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Deviation from divine duty: Remedio's refusal to collect Antonio's soul has left him with a constant ache. His attempt to help the actor is framed as a way to prove his path is just, but it also represents a further step away from his assigned role.
Cost of compromise: Remedio worries about what will be left of him after too much compromise, exposure to humans, and visibility. This concern underscores the tension between his nature and his growing engagement with human life.
Observation and the observed: Remedio wonders whether his observation changes the nature of the observed. He watches the actor's family and sees them as unchanged, but his own presence begins to alter the course of events.
Inherited debt and justice: Remedio considers the possibility that the Sonoros may still owe a debt, which could require him to collect a soul. This idea ties the chapter to the broader theme of inherited guilt and the cost of past actions.
Nature of time: The conversation between Remedio and Jaime touches on the nature of time, with Jaime referencing Borges's idea that all time has already passed. Remedio's response suggests that true understanding of time is beyond human grasp.
Becoming human through engagement: Remedio is surprised by his own ability to speak spontaneously and to feel something like human emotion. He is unsure whether this change is a gift or a loss.
Shame transformed into anger: Juan Antonio's reaction to the boy's fall illustrates how shame can be quickly converted into outward aggression.
Child's soul as a bird in flight: Remedio's comment about a child's soul being a bird in flight captures the fragility and unpredictability of childhood.
Happiness has many faces: Remedio challenges Jaime's assumption that all happy families are alike, suggesting that happiness is not a single, uniform state.
Inability to lie: Remedio's inability to lie is a recurring trait that shapes his interactions and forces him to rely on others to speak for him.
Mortality and aging: Juan Antonio's behavior is attributed partly to his age, and Remedio notes that it is difficult to watch oneself approach the end.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens the novel's exploration of Remedio's nature and his relationship to humanity. His decision to help the actor represents a significant step in his journey, as he begins to engage with human life in ways that were previously foreign to him. The chapter also introduces the Sonoro family, whose history and potential debt will likely have consequences for the larger narrative. The themes of observation, time, and the cost of compromise are developed through Remedio's interactions with Jaime and his family, and his growing uncertainty about his own path sets the stage for future conflicts.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Remedio decide to help the actor, and what does he hope to prove?

Remedio decides to help the actor because he believes that a successful intervention will prove his path is just. By assisting the actor, he hopes to demonstrate that his deviation from his assigned task was not a mistake, allowing him to continue his work without the pain of another refusal.

2. How does Remedio's conversation with Jaime reveal his changing nature?

During their conversation, Remedio is surprised by his ability to speak spontaneously and to offer his own opinions, such as his disagreement with the idea that all happy families are alike. He reflects that stepping off the path seems to be making him more like men, and he is uncertain whether to greet this change with gladness or dread.

3. What role does Juan Antonio's anger play in the chapter?

Juan Antonio's anger is shown to be a transformation of his inward shame over the boy's fall. His quick shift from guilt to outward aggression highlights his inability to process vulnerability and contributes to the tension between him and Jaime. It also serves as a contrast to Remedio's calm and compassionate response to the child's injury.